Nonna Goes To Melbourne.

With my sister Heidi, Helen, neice Sharna, picking up my sister Ingrid & myself up from the airport, we set off for a visit to The YarraValley. The girls have some favourite stops in The Yarra Valley, but are always up for a new vineyard.

In no time I was relaxing & getting into the excitement of our getaway. Wine , coffee, cheeses, pizza, was only the beginning. What I love about the dairy & Vineyards was the rustic, recycled, old is new again. I wandered around soaking up all the visually inspiring earthy surroundings with each nook & cranny. First stop The Yarra Valley Dairy!

Milk Jugs

Rustic Dairy

We entered the worn old barn at the dairy to find a wide variety of preserves & old fashioned kitchen appliances. The enamel milk jugs struck a chord of nostalgia, when back in the '60's mum made up our milo drink in a similar jug. Browsing the goods, then onto tasting some samples served by Ingrid, not my sister.

Cunliffe Waters Preserves

Tasting the dips made with the preserves.

Cheese Platter

Coffee, a cheese platter & respite from the rush of work. Moving outside to enjoy the surrounding countryside of tree lined avenues and paddocks. the trees are very European and used to break the cold winds and probably even helped protect the fields from frost bite. (stopping the sun hitting the frost on the grasses & plants). Then we drove down the avenue on to Meletos , Napoleones Brewers. Apple trees! Feeling like a school girl seeing the apples growing on trees, I got my happy snaps. I've seen plenty of fruit trees fully laden, even grown my own, but apple trees aren't very common in Brisbane or North Queensland. Marine creates floral arrangements at The Providor at Meletos.

The lovely Marine, the french Florist let me take another happy snap.

Crab-apples for juicing

Wandering through the gardens is inspiring, the ideas, reusing old, odd pieces as features gives it a rustic feel of forever & peace. Espaliering fruit trees on the wall, a wicker trellis, high vegetables gardens, apple trees, grapes on vines & the list goes on.......

Chocolate Dessert

Wicker Gardening

Lunch at Napoleones after a browse through the gift & flower shop

Another Nook in the Garden at Melotos.

Fine Dining or Alfresco with a wine, apple spritzer or coffee is a break from reality & inspires me to whip up a banquet when I get home.

the Chocolate production line.

Decadent individual chocolates

Another Apron for Nonna!

Onto Yering Farm another vineyard the girls love! Another vino, an Apple cider for me & kick back to soak up the gorgeous blue skies, distant mountain & vineyards. A bottle or two of Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 or a 6 pack of apple cider.

The musical 'Ladies in Black' & meze dining in the arcade 'Ca De Vin' off Collins Street.

4 days in Melbourne and I didn't get to visit Captain Cooks' Cottage. Next time.....

Ladies in Black was so 1950's, a time I remember.....

It probably influenced me as a housewife, mother & cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Fortunately, living in the '70's, liberated us housewives. I loved the performances & songs in the show, occasionally, a few gasps from the crowd at the very innappropriate phrases from a very prejudice era.

Home Sweet Home

Rustic Charm

Ready for the Kitchen

A few more RUSTIC photos & another apron.

High Tea at Hopetoun.

Another decadent destination is a High Tea at Hopetoun in the Block Arcade, booking are usually essential.